Boluda Towage said it will have a fleet of five tugboats in Gibraltar, enhancing its service and intervention capacity in the strait.
The recent renaming ceremony for the new tugboat “VB Responder” was held at the Small Boats Marina in the port of Gibraltar, enhancing the current fleet of Boluda Towage in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The event was attended by the chief minister, Fabian Picardo KC MP, Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, the president of Boluda Corporación Marítima, Vicente Boluda Fos, executive vice president of Boluda Towage, Vicente Boluda Ceballos, and the captain of the Port, John Ghio.
“The importance of Gibraltar and its port as a strategic hub for our operations in the strait, a real gateway from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean, where it is essential to act with a powerful and prepared fleet such as that of Boluda Towage,” stated Vicente Boluda, president of Boluda Corporación Marítima.
Boluda Towage is expanding its activities despite global geopolitical tensions. Following recent events in the Red Sea, ports in the Strait of Gibraltar will be the first in Europe to be reached by shipping lines now navigating the Cape of Good Hope route, making it a crucial point on the trade routes between Europe and Asia.
The Strait of Gibraltar, spanning 42 miles in length and narrowing to only nine miles at its tightest point, is one of the busiest maritime areas globally, with over 100,000 ships passing through each year, accounting for more than 10% of the world’s total maritime traffic.
“This partnership reflects the Gibraltar Port’s commitment to adapting to the evolving maritime industry and enhancing the services it offers. I would like to thank Boluda for their interest in Gibraltar and I look forward to many years of collaboration,” said Gemma Arias-Vasquez MP, minister for the Port.
The area’s challenging conditions, including strong and variable tides, powerful easterly and westerly winds, and frequent fog banks caused by high temperatures, make the work of tugboats essential for optimizing operations.
“I welcome the addition of “VB Responder” to Boluda Towage’s fleet as it signifies their confidence in Gibraltar not just as a strategic point in geographic terms, but as a trustworthy place for business. This is also an important acquisition that strengthens the Port of Gibraltar’s maritime capabilities which will enhance their service,” stated Fabian Picardo KC MP, the Chief Minister.
